Vegan Food Brands We Think You’ll Love

When trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet, it can be hard to know where to start. You’re not only looking for vegan food brands to replace your favorite meat products, but you’re also on the hunt for dairy alternatives, which adds another layer to the conundrum, because … well, cheese! And milk! And ice cream! Who wants to live in a world without those things? Certainly not us. And thankfully, we — and you — don’t have to.

Here at Nowadays, we’re dedicated to creating completely plant-based food with wholesome, non-GMO ingredients. So you probably won’t be surprised to learn that we have a few of our own go-to vegan food products that are better-for-you AND absolutely craveable . Yes, we eat other foods besides our chicken nuggets! Here are a few of our favorites that we think you’ll love too. 

Vegan-Friendly Eggs and Meat Alternatives 

Many vegan food brands have risen to the occasion for families that are either going totally vegan or simply looking for easy, tasty, and better-for-you Meatless Monday options. Take a look at these vegan food brands that have made meatless meat and eggless eggs particularly delightful.

Nowadays

Obviously, we’re partial to our own brand. But that’s just because we’re so proud of what we’ve created. Nowadays plant-based nuggets are made with 7 simple ingredients that are 100% vegan and 0% junk. But that doesn’t mean zero flavor. 

On the contrary, Nowadays nuggets are bursting with flavor and teeming with texture — that means crunchy and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. They’re perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner and easy to pack up in your kid’s lunch. Even better, you can get these delish bites delivered directly to your door!

Hilary’s

A fellow meat alternative food company with a passion for minimally processed ingredients, Hilary’s makes nutrient-dense, plant-based veggie burgers and meatless breakfast sausages in a variety of flavors. With a unique combination of seasonings, you and your family will enjoy these vegan alternatives. You can find them in the freezer section of your local supermarket.

Dr. Praeger’s

You’ve probably seen this popular vegan brand’s meat-free burgers in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Founded in 1994 by two heart surgeons who didn’t like what they were seeing in their practice, Dr. Praeger’s offers a myriad of meat-free options from broccoli and Brussels sprouts cakes to hashbrowns and bowls. 

Plus, as a bonus for parents looking for sneaky ways to get more veggies into their children, you can’t go wrong with the kale puffs (they hide potatoes and kale within their crunchy deliciousness) or chocolate littles, which cleverly hide black beans, zucchini, sweet potato, and butternut squash inside their dinosaur-shaped bites. Brilliant!

JUST Egg

Made primarily from mung beans, JUST Eggs not only look like eggs but they also fluff like them, scramble like them, and taste like them. (Seriously. We dare you to tell the difference.) Try these in place of regular eggs, whether it’s an omelet or the batter for scrumptious French toast.

Vegan-Friendly Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt 

Vegan versions of cheese, yogurt, milk and other dairy products have come a long way since the days when soy was the only option (thank goodness). Now, you can find vegan alternatives that melt like real cheese, yogurt you would swear was the real thing, and dairy-free milk that we dare say tastes even better than the one it was trying to replace. These are just some of our favorite vegan brands doing dairy-free replacements in all the right ways.

Oatly

This oat drink brand produces perhaps the creamiest, tastiest oat-based milk, ice cream, and yogurt around. Try the oat milk to take your dairy-free lattes and smoothies to the next level. As for the fudge brownie or salted caramel ice cream, try eating just a few spoonfuls. (Spoiler alert: Not possible.)

Lavva

This vegan yogurt and plant-based milk company is one of the only (if not the only) brands that uses a low-carb nut called the pili nut as the base for its yogurt. The pili nut is a nutrient-dense, delicious nut grown in fertile volcanic-rich soil in Southeast Asia. It also happens to be the nut highest in magnesium and vitamin E, so you can feel extra good about eating it.

Miyoko’s Creamery

This vegan cheese and butter company uses cashews as the base ingredient. The cheeses are packed with flavor (we love the pepper jack), and they even bubble and brown like real cheese when melted. You can order directly from Miyoko’s website or check out the store finder to see which retailers carry them.

Kite Hill

From almond ricotta and cream cheeses (you’ll love the dill-chive flavor) to yogurt, sour cream, butter, dips, and even stuffed pasta, Kite Hill is a game-changer for dairy-free “dairy” products. Try the Greek yogurt, which makes a perfect pairing with granola in the morning, as a midday snack, or as the base for homemade tzatziki. 

Violife Foods

This is another delicious dairy alternative brand we love not only because the flavor is great, but also because the “cheeses” melt and act like real cheese. We’re particularly smitten with the parmesan block and mozzarella shreds. And the smoked provolone slices in a sandwich will transport you right to the deli counter! 

Treeline Cheese

We’re on a roll here with the cheese, but that’s because (aside from great seasonings), cheese can go a long way to adding flavor and texture to any vegetarian meal. Treeline offers everything from aged artisanal and soft French-style cheese alternatives to slices and shreds of cashew-based cheeses. 

Forager

This organic, dairy-free company has something for everyone, from yogurt, sour cream, and cheese to frozen desserts, chips, cereals, and protein shakes. Most products are made primarily from cashews but the variety of flavors is incredible.

Culina Yogurt

If you love the thick and creamy texture of Greek yogurt, you’re going to love Culina coconut milk yogurts. Ingredients are fermented for over 18 hours to get that tangy, creamy taste and texture, not to mention those gut-friendly bacteria.

Ripple Foods

If almond milk isn’t quite your thing (we get it, it’s not everyone’s thing), you might consider topping your granola or consuming your vegan latte with a milk made from pea protein. (Yes, the power of peas extends beyond our chicken nuggets into milk, thank you very much!)

Founded by two scientists on a mission to improve their environmental footprint, Ripple Foods is a pea-based company that crafts dairy-free milks (even chocolate), frozen desserts, and protein shakes suitable for everyone in your family, even the kiddos.

Vegan-Friendly Dips, Dressings and Spreads

One thing that can transform any dish is the right condiment. Think about it: what’s a veggie hot dog without ketchup, mustard, and relish? Or chips without dip? When it comes to vegan meals, the same rule holds true: condiments take them from good to great. 

We’ve developed a few saucy recipes for your tasty pleasure, like non-dairy tzatziki sauce and can’t-get-enough comeback sauce. But if you’re pinched for time, here are some of our most coveted vegan food brands that — in our humble opinion — make the tastiest of tasty sauces, dips, dressings, and more.

Follow Your Heart

We heart Follow Your Heart for so many reasons — salad dressings, cheeses, dips, and spreads — but we really fell in love with the brand’s vegenaise. Follow Your Heart has mastered vegan mayo and we know you’ll think so too.

Primal Kitchen

While this brand is primarily a paleo-based company, Primal Kitchen has done an awesome job with its vegan line of products. We particularly love the avocado oil-based mayo and vegan ranch dressing, perfect for dipping Nowadays nuggets!

Siete Foods

Looking for vegan, gluten-free, grain-free tortillas and tortilla chips for your next Mexican-themed dinner night? Siete Foods offers a variety of tortillas and chips made with cassava flour and there’s even hard taco shells. The brand’s cashew-based queso is perfect for your next meatless nacho stack and the green and red enchilada sauces work for enchiladas and burritos. 

Vegan-Friendly Desserts and Sweet Snack Brands

It’s safe to say that most of us love a nice, warm chocolate chip cookie. Top it with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle it with some hot fudge sauce and you’ve got a recipe for the best rainy day dessert there ever was. 

But how do you partake in the delicious desserts you grew up on without the dairy and eggs? You find vegan food companies whose mission is to replicate all your favorite sweet treats without animal-based ingredients. Here are some of our all-time favorite vegan dessert and snack brands.

Hu Kitchen

If you’re looking for the perfect vegan dark chocolate bar, you can stop now: we’ve found it. While the Hu Kitchen brand isn’t completely plant-based, the vegan chocolate bars have just a few simple vegan ingredients and are absolutely delish. There’s also dark chocolate-covered cashews and almonds that are free of palm oil, sugar alcohols, shiny glaze, and refined sugar. We dare you not to eat the whole bag (and we won’t judge you if you do).

Purely Elizabeth

We love this vegan brand for its gluten-free, plant-based granola, which is delicious with almond milk. Purely Elizabeth also offers must-have pancake, waffle, bread, and muffin mixes. The company’s dedication to pure, whole-food, non-GMO ingredients is right up our alley and we’re sure you’ll love them.

Partake Foods

If you thought cookies and milk were off the table for plant-based folks, we’re happy to report that you are incorrect. (And if there was ever a time to be wrong, this would be the time!) Partake Foods’ cookies are free of the 8 top allergens — aka they’re safe to send to school in your child’s lunchbox — and pair perfectly with any plant-based milk, so you can go right back to your happy place: dipping cookies in milk. Dee-lish!

Eclipse Foods

One can never have enough ice cream. (Seriously. Never). And we’re obsessed with Eclipse Foods, a vegan ice cream company on a mission to create delicious, sustainable ice cream that’s good for both the planet and your taste buds. (Thanks, guys, we appreciate you.) With classic flavors like caramel butter pecan and tropical flavors like mango passion fruit, you’re going to love this vegan food brand. Order online to have ice cream shipped directly to your door. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Coconut Bliss

Speaking of vegan ice cream, this organic, coconut-based ice cream is some of the creamiest in town. In addition to ice cream, Coconut Bliss also offers ice cream sandwiches and bars. Bonus: there’s a base that allows you to make your own flavor combination in the comfort of your own home! (Look for it on the company’s site.) You can buy the brand’s pints of ice cream and cookie sandwiches at most grocery stores

Vegan Food Brands For Tasty Family Meals

As you can see, building a delicious vegan meal for you and your family is easier than ever thanks to the explosion of vegan food products. We no longer live in a world where a tofurky loaf is the only meat alternative — and we’ve come a long way since soy milk and soy-based cheeses were the only dairy alternatives. Thank goodness!